Morning Report | Brendan Schaub sees Dricus du Plessis chasing 3 titles: ‘Heavyweight’s not as far a stretch for him’

Dricus du Plessis defends his UFC title for the third straight time quickly when he faces Khamzat Chimaev, and if he overcomes that check, there may very well be greater issues forward for him.

Podcaster and former fighter Brendan Schaub opined on the Aug. 16 UFC 319 most important occasion on a current episode of the JAXXON podcast, stating his case for why du Plessis may presumably develop into a three-division champion. Present light-weight titleholder Ilia Topuria turned a “champ-champ” after abdicating the featherweight throne after which knocking out Charles Oliveira to win a vacant 155-pound belt, which was made vacant when Islam Makhachev moved as much as 170 kilos for a future battle with Jack Della Maddalena.

Schaub thinks du Plessis couldn’t solely transfer as much as 205 kilos for a second belt, however that he ought to think about leaping to heavyweight after that to make UFC historical past.

“I feel for Islam it made sense,” Schaub mentioned. “For Topuria, I nonetheless [think] he had some work to do, however for Makhachev it made sense to leap as much as ‘70. He can positively seize ‘55, ‘70. ‘85’s a special animal as a result of you might have guys like DDP and Khamzat.

“I feel whoever wins out of Khamzat and DDP, whoever wins that may go for 3 belts. DDP’s greater than Khamzat, so mild heavyweight, he’s in all probability a light-weight heavyweight naturally. So it is sensible for DDP to go to mild heavyweight. Heavyweight’s not as far a stretch for him. DDP’s a giant boy.”

Du Plessis is aware of what it’s like to carry titles in two divisions. Previous to signing with UFC, du Plessis gained middleweight and welterweight titles in KSW, although he has since mentioned he would by no means attempt to reduce all the way down to 170 kilos once more. Ought to he defeat Chimaev, it’s not out of the query that du Plessis makes an attempt to beat two extra weight courses, particularly contemplating heavyweight and light-weight heavyweight are presently in a down interval.

However a win at UFC 319 is not any assure. Schaub argued that anybody assuming a Chimaev win has to occur early and a du Plessis win has to come back late may very well be mistaken.

“Very first thing I mentioned to the boys once we have been watching Khamzat practice, as a result of once I do a breakdown of fights, I’m like, ‘How’s his cardio?’” Schaub mentioned. “They’re like, ‘Buddy, not a difficulty. In any respect.’ As a result of my greatest factor for him going into the DDP battle, DDP’s a giant dude, sturdy, so how’s Khamzat going to be within the fourth and fifth spherical. They’re like, ‘Belief me, not a difficulty.’”

“DDP is big and he’s sturdy and unorthodox,” Schaub added. “So the oddsmakers are going to say if it ends earlier than two rounds, it’s Khamzat all day. I might prolong that after seeing this to even the primary three rounds. 4 and 5 is what I wish to see. I wish to see Khamzat within the fourth and fifth, and if Khamzat’s lighting his ass up – as a result of DDP’s going to be powerful to complete – so if Khamzat’s within the fourth and fifth and finishes him, then you definitely’ve bought one. We’ve bought an actual one.”

Yikes. Matt Brown didn’t mince phrases when criticizing Renato Moicano’s resolution to not settle for a UFC lawsuit settlement.

Confidence. Tatsuro Taira handily defeated Hyun Sung Park within the UFC Vegas 108 most important occasion—and he thinks he can do the identical to flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja.

Sufficient. Dan Hooker is fed up and needs to battle Arman Tsarukyan.

Oops. An novice fighter tried to level down like Max Holloway. It didn’t go effectively.

Face-plant. There was some severe silliness taking place on the regional scene this weekend.

Out. Max Holloway has an harm that can preserve him sidelined till 2026.

UFC Vegas 108 post-fight present.

MMA Preventing chats with Amanda Nunes and Mark Coleman.

Wonderboy combos.

The legends face off, eventually.

UFC 319, lower than two weeks means.

On To the Subsequent One. MMA Preventing’s Mike Heck and Alexander Okay. Lee lay out what’s greatest for the brilliantly gifted Tatsuro Taira, plus matchup picks for the principle card winners of UFC Vegas 108.

I don’t know.

I DON’T KNOW

Taira taking on in 2026?

No stress.

Make it occur (the battle, I imply, not the haircut).

OK!

“For me, the motion is the juice. I’m in.”

I do know this now and it’s best to, too.

Hope you’re all loving the UFC APEX, as a result of we’ve bought back-to-back occasions on the world’s most violent warehouse with UFC Vegas 109 simply across the nook. Credit score to all of the fighters who nonetheless discover a method to make memorable moments in there, however how significantly better would a few of Saturday’s slobberknockers been in entrance of an precise crowd?

Preserve Contender Collection and The Final Fighter in there, perhaps share area with some regional promotions in trade for content material (bought that new TV/streaming deal developing!) and expertise offers, and cut back the quantity of UFC Vegas occasions as a lot as attainable.

We are able to repair this!

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